Congress wins three Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan, Gehlot says BJP will face defeat in 2023 assembly polls

Jaipur: Congress won all three Rajya Sabha seats it contested in party-ruled Rajasthan with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also winning a seat in the state.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot congratulated party leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala, Pramod Tiwari and Mukul Wasnik for their victory in the biennial polls to the upper house of parliament and said BJP had tried to indulge in “horse-trading by fielding an independent candidate”. BJP candidate Ghanshyam Tiwari won but party-backed independent candidate Subhash Chandra lost the polls.

Gehlot said that party MLAs and its allies have shown unity and given a befitting reply to BJP. He said that the BJP will face a similar defeat in the assembly polls next year.

He expressed confidence that the newly-elected party MPs will firmly raise the issues of state.

“Congress’ victory in three Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan is a victory for democracy. I congratulate all three newly-elected MPs – Pramod Tiwari, Mukul Wasnik and Randeep Surjewala. I am sure that all the three MPs will be able to firmly champion the rights of Rajasthan in Delhi,” Gehlot said in a tweet.

“It was clear from the beginning that the Congress had the required majority for all three seats. But BJP tried to indulge in horse-trading by fielding an independent. The solidarity of our MLAs has given a befitting reply. The BJP will face a similar defeat in the 2023 assembly elections as well,” he added.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot also congratulated the newly-elected MPs from the state.

“I extend my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all the three candidates of the Congress party – Mukul Wasnik, Randeep Surjewala, and Pramod Tiwari – for winning the Rajya Sabha elections from the state,” he said.

Polling was necessitated as there were five candidates for four seats in the state in the biennial polls.